no title

Unrest

Pope, U.N. chief call for leaders to quell political street violence in Venezuela

Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoRodrigo Abd | Associated PressAnti-government protesters shield themselves during a clash with police in Valencia, Venezuela. Opponents and supporters of the Socialist government rallied in cities across the country yesterday.

CARACAS, Venezuela — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Pope Francis called separately
yesterday for an end to violence in Venezuela that has killed at least 13 people, and they urged
politicians to take the lead in calming the nation’s worst unrest in a decade.

Both political camps demonstrated in cities across Venezuela. In the capital, Caracas, female
opposition supporters rallied, while agricultural workers marched to the presidential palace in
support of the Socialist government.

Students and other opponents of President Nicolas Maduro demand that he quit. They cite high
inflation, a shocking level of violent crime, shortages of basic food and what they say is his
repression of political rivals. The protests are the biggest challenge to Maduro’s 10-month-old
administration, although there is no sign that they could topple him.

Pope Francis told tens of thousands of people in St.

Peter’s Square in his weekly address that he is “particularly concerned” after recent
events.

“I sincerely hope the violence and hostility ends as soon as possible, and that the Venezuelan
people, beginning with the responsible politicians and institutions, act to foster national
reconciliation through mutual forgiveness and sincere dialogue,” Francis said.

Ban called for “concrete gestures by all parties to reduce polarization” and engage in
dialogue.

Maduro, a 51-year-old former bus driver and union boss, invited church, business and opposition
leaders to a “national peace conference” at the presidential palace yesterday. However, major
opposition figures declined to attend.

“This cannot just be a photo op,” said Henrique Capriles, a two-time opposition candidate for
president. He said Maduro is not ready to discuss Venezuela’s real problems.

Meanwhile, pro-Maduro farmworkers clad mostly in the bright red of the ruling Socialist Party
marched in the center of the capital under the slogan, “Sowing peace and harvesting life!”

Opposition demonstrations began at the start of the month, but they mushroomed when three people
were shot dead after a Feb. 12 opposition march in downtown Caracas.

Video and photographs taken on the day showed men widely thought to be state security agents
apparently firing pistols at stone-throwing student protesters clashing with police.

Yesterday, Venezuela’s state prosecutor said five members of the national intelligence agency
Sebin had been detained over two of the deaths, suspected of crimes including homicide.

About 150 people have been injured during the two-week crisis, and more than 500 people have
been arrested.